THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE %% ENNYUMBA EY'ENSI YONNA EY'OBWENKANYA Naw-Rúz 177 To the Bahá’ís of the World %% Eri Ababahá’í ab'ensi Dearly loved Friends, %% Ab’emikwano abaagalwa ennyo, We feel compelled by current events to write to you at this time %% %% Tuwulira tuwalirizibbwa olw’ebigenda mu maaso mu kiseera kino okubawandiikira and not wait until Riḍván. %% era ne tutalinda kutuusa Riḍván. As you will be all too aware, over recent weeks and months, %% Nga mwenna bwe mukimanyi obulungi, sabbiiti n’emyezi egiyise, an apprehensive world has been coming to terms with a rapidly evolving health crisis affecting the people in many countries, %% ensi eri ku bunkenke bwegasimbaganye n’ekirwadde ekikulira ku misinde egya yiriyiri nga kikosezza abantu ab’amawanga mangi, the consequences of which for society cannot yet be estimated with any certainty. %% nga n’ebinavaamu eri ensi mpaawo asobolera ddala kubiteebereza. We are sure that you, like us, have felt great concern for the well-being of humanity, %% Tuli bakakafu nti mmwe, nga naffe, muwulira okufaayo okw’amaanyi eri obulungi bw'abantu bonna, especially for those who are most vulnerable. %% naddala abo abajja okusinga okukosebwa. Seldom has it been more evident that society’s collective strength is dependent on the unity it can manifest in action, %% Tekitera kweyoleka kkaati nti amaanyi agaawamu ag’ekitundu gesigamiziddwa ku bumu obweyolekera mu bikolwa, from the international stage to the grassroots, %% okuviira ddala ku mutendera ogw'ensi okutuuka ku kyalo wansi ddala, and we know that you are giving your support to the essential efforts being made %% %% era tukimanyi nti muwa obuyambi eri okulafuubana okukolebwa in this regard to protect the health and welfare of all. %% mu ngeri eno okukuuma eby’obulamu wamu n’obulungi bwa bonna. Inevitably, the current situation will have an impact on the administration of the Cause of God in many places, %% Mu buteewalika, embeera eriwo egya kukyusamu enzirukanya y’Enzikriza ya Katonda mu bifo bingi, and in every case the relevant National Spiritual Assembly will advise %% era mu buli mbeera Olukiiko olw'Omwoyo olw'Eggwanga lwekikwatako lujja kuwa amagezi on the appropriate measures to be taken. %% ku ngeri ennuŋŋamu egya okugobererwa. In some countries %% Mu mawanga agamu this will include cancelling National Convention, %% kijja kwetaagisa okusazaamu Olukuŋŋaana lw'Eggwanga, with arrangements being made for the National Assembly to be elected by other means. %% okulondebwa Olukiiko olw'Omwoyo olw'Eggwanga nga era enteekateeka zijja kukolebwa okulaba nga Olukiiko olw'Eggwanga lulondebwa mu ngeri endala. Similar arrangements might also need to be made, %% Entegeka zeezimu zandyetaagisa okukolebwa, in certain places, for the election of Local Spiritual Assemblies. %% mu bifo ebimu, mu kulonda kw'Olukiiko olw'Omwoyo olw'Ekitundu. However, in circumstances where even this proves unfeasible, %% Naye, mu bifo ebimu ne kino gyekitaasoboke, it would be permissible this year for the existing membership of a Local or National Assembly %% kijja kuba kikkirizibwa omwaka guno abakiise abali ku Lukiiko lw’Ekitundu oba olw'Eggwanga . to continue on into the next administrative year. %% okwongera okuweereza n’omwaka ogujja ogw’enzirukanya y’emirimu. Naturally, any National Assembly giving thought to approving such a step %% Kya butonde, Olukiiko lw'Eggwanga lwonna olulowooza okutwala enkola eyefaananyirizaako eno will seek the advice of the Counsellors at an early stage. %% lulina okufuna okuwabulwa kwa Abawi b’Amagezi nga obudde bukyali. At a time of another crisis, %% Mu kaseera akalala ak’akazigizigi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá offered these words of counsel: %% ‘Abdu’l-Bahá yagaba ebigambo bino ebibuulirira: In a day such as this, %% Mu lunaku nga luno, when the tempests of trials and tribulations have encompassed the world, %% nga embuyaga ez’okugezesebwa n’okubonaabona nga zeetolodde ensi, and fear and trembling have agitated the planet, %% n’okutya n’okujugumira bitabudde ensi yonna, ye must rise above the horizon of firmness and steadfastness %% mulina okusituka wa ggulu w’eggulu ly’obunywevu n’obugumu n’amaaso amatangaavu with illumined faces and radiant brows in such wise %% n’ebyenyi ebyakaayakana mu ngeri, that, God willing, the gloom of fear and consternation may be entirely obliterated, %% Katonda nga ayagadde, ekizikiza ky’okutya n’okutabanguka bisobole okusaanirawo ddala, and the light of assurance may dawn above the manifest horizon %% n’ekitangaala ky’obukakafu kirabikire wa ggulu w’eggulu eryeyoleka and shine resplendently. %% era kimasemase n’okutangalijja. The world stands more and more in need of the hope %% Ensi yetaagira ddala essuubi and the strength of spirit %% n’amaanyi ag’omwoyo obukkiriza bye buleeta. Beloved friends, %% Ab’emikwano abaagalwa, you have of course long been occupied %% ebbanga ddene mubadde mwenyigira with the work of nurturing %% mu mirimu gy’okukulaakulanya within groups of souls that faith imparts, precisely the attributes %% mu bibinja by’emyoyo endowooza zennyini that are required at this time: %% ezetaagisa mu kaseera kano: unity and fellow feeling, %% obumu n’obwasseruganda, knowledge and understanding, %% amagezi n’okutegeera, a spirit of collective worship and common endeavour. %% omwoyo gw’okusinziza awamu n’okulafubanira awamu. Indeed, we have been struck by how efforts to reinforce %% Ddala, kitusanyusizza nnyo engeri emirimu egy’okunywezaamu these attributes have made communities especially resilient, %% endowooza zino gyegifudde ebitundu ebinywevu ennyo, even when faced with conditions that have necessarily limited their activities. %% ne webiba birumbiddwa embeera ezikosa emirimu gyabyo. Though having to adapt to new circumstances, %% Newakubadde balina okumanyiira embeera empya, the believers have used creative means %% abakkiriza bakozeseza engeri ez’obuyiiya to strengthen bonds of friendship, %% okugumya ebibagatta mu mukwano, and to foster among themselves %% era n’okuleetawo mu massekkati gaabwe and those known to them %% n’abo be bamanyi spiritual consciousness and qualities of tranquillity, %% eri endowooza ey’omwoyo n’obubonero oby’obutebenkevu, confidence, and reliance on God. %% obuvumu, n’okwesigama ku Katonda. The elevated conversations that have occurred as a result, %% Emboozi ensukkulumu ezibaddewo nga ekivaamu, whether remotely or in person, %% mu butaliiwo oba mu buliwo, have been a source of comfort and inspiration to many. %% zibadde ensibuko y’okubeesabeesa n’okugumya eri enkuyanja. Such efforts on your part %% Emirimu nga egyo ku luuyi lwammwe %% provide a valuable service at this hour %% gireeta obuweereza obw’omuwendo mu ssaawa eno when many souls are perplexed and dismayed, %% nga emyoyo mingi giri mu kusoberwa era n’okutawaana, unsure of what will be. %% tebakakasa kiki ekigenda okubeera. However difficult matters are at present, %% Ensonga eziriwo ne bwe zibeera enzibu zitya, and however close to the limits of their endurance %% olulyo lw’omuntu lujja mu kkomekkereza kuyita mu bizibu bino, some sections of societies are brought, %% era ebitundu by’ensi ebimu humanity will ultimately pass through this ordeal, %% ne bwe bibeera bituusibbwa ku kkomo ly’okuguminkiriza, and it will emerge on the other side with greater insight %% era lujja kugukira ku luuyi olulala and with a deeper appreciation of its inherent oneness and interdependence. %% n’entegeera ey’amaanyi n’okusiima okunnyikivu obumu bwalwo n’enkolagana. This is not the moment in which to describe in any detail %% Kano si kekaseera akunnyonnyola the accomplishments of the Bahá’í world %% mu bulambulukufu byonna ebituukiddwako eby’ensi ya Bahá'í over the past year, %% mu mwaka oguwedde, or the extraordinary progress made %% oba enkulakulana ensukkulumu etuukiddwako in multiplying community-building activities worldwide %% mu kukubisaamu emirimu egizimba ekitundu mu nsi yonna and strengthening programmes of growth, %% era n’okunyweza enteekateeka ey’okukula, work which continues in earnest %% omulimu ogugenda mu maaso mu mazima wherever circumstances permit. %% buli mbeera bwekkiriza. Suffice it to say that, %% Kimala okwatula, four years into the current Plan, %% emyaka ena mu Nteekateeka eriwo, the tireless supporters of the Cause have brought the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh %% abawanirizi b’Enzikiriza baleese Enzikiriza ya Bahá’u’lláh to the strongest position %% mu kifo ekinywevu in which it has ever been in its history. %% kyeyali ebaddemu mu byafaayo byayo. Everything you have done %% Ebyo byonna byemukoze and are now doing %% era ne bye muli mukukola is preparing the global Bahá’í community %% biteekerateekera Ababahá´í for the next stage in the unfoldment of the Divine Plan. %% omutendera oguddako mu kwanjuluza Enteekateeka Entukuvu. For now, our thoughts and our prayers %% Mu kiseera kino, ebirowoozo byaffe n’essaala zaffe are focused on the health and well-being of all the friends of God %% bitunuzibbwa eri eby’obulamu n’obulungi bw’emikwano gya Katonda and all those among whom you dwell. %% wamu n’abo be bawangala nabo. We pray earnestly, also, %% Tusaba mu mazima, n’era, for the Almighty to bestow upon you assurance, %% Oyo Asinga amaanyi okubaggonnomolako essuubi, stamina, and staunch spirits. %% obugumu, n’emyoyo eminywevu. May your minds be ever bent upon the needs %% Endowooza zammwe zeemarire ku byetaago of the communities to which you belong, % by’ebitundu bye mubeeramu, the condition of the societies in which you live, %% embeera z’abantu bonna eyo gye mubeera and the welfare of the entire family of humanity, %% era n’obulungi bw’olulyo lw’omuntu, to whom you are all brothers and sisters. %% kubanga mwenna muli baluganda, ne bannyina. And in your quiet moments, %% Era mu biseera byammwe eby’akasirise, when no course of action other than prayer seems possible, %% nga tewali kikolwa kirala kyonna ekisoboka okugyako essaala, then we invite you to add your supplications to our own %% tubaaniriza okwongera okusaba kwammwe ku kwaffe and ardently pray for the relief of suffering. %% era munyiikire okusaba okumalawo okubonaabona. We turn to these words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, %% Tudda eri ebigambo bino ebya ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Whose whole existence was an example of selfless commitment %% okubeerawo Kwe kwonna okwali eky’okulabirako eky’obuteelowoozako to the well-being of others: %% mu kufaayo eri obulungi bw’abalala: O Thou Provider! %% Ayi Ggwe Omugabirizi! Assist Thou these noble friends to win Thy good pleasure, %% Yamba Ggwe ab’emikwano bano abakungu okuwangula okusiima Kwo, and make them well-wishers %% era bafuule abaagaliza-obulungi of stranger and friend alike. %% eri atamanyiddwa n’owo omukwano kyenkanyi. Bring them into the world that abideth forever; %% Baleete mu nsi eyo ey’olubeerera; grant them a portion of heavenly grace; %% bawe ekigero ky’omukisa gw'omu ggulu; cause them to be true Bahá’ís, %% bafuule okubeera Ababahá´í abatuufu, sincerely of God; %% abaddala mu Katonda; save them from outward semblances, %% bataase okuva eri ebyefanaanyiriza ebyokungulu, and establish them firmly in the truth. %% era banywereze mu mazima. Make them signs and tokens of the Kingdom, %% Bafuule obubonero bw’Obwakabaka, luminous stars above the horizons of this nether life. %% emunyeenye ezaakayakanira wa ggulu w’eggulu ly’obulamu buno obukoma. Make them to be a comfort and a solace to humankind %% Bafuule ababeesibeesi era essanyu eri abantu bonna and servants to the peace of the world. %% era abaweereza eri eddembe mu nsi.